I’m one of those people who has long, weird and vivid dreams almost every night. Trust me, it’s more of a curse than a blessing, even when they’re not exactly nightmares.
Without delving too deeply into my subconscious, some of the recurring "stress dreams" are common ones: showing up to high school or college at the end of the semester and realizing I never went to a class, coming to work naked, running in slow motion … that sort of stuff.
In college, I had a recurring nightmare that I was trapped on a crazy elevator. Lately, that’s been replaced by what I call the "fat finger" dream. I’ve talked to a few people, including co-worker Molly Synder, who has had it, too.
Basically, I find myself trying to call or text someone, or 911, but I can’t make my phone work. Everything I type comes out wrong, or my iPhone does the wrong thing, or Siri can’t understand me (not far from the truth). It’s usually occurring during some sort of emergency, and I lack the ability to communicate.
It doesn’t take Sigmund Freud to figure out what this means: It’s obviously feeling out of control. But what interests me is that the medium has changed to reflect current technology.
I’d be interested to know if you’ve had the "fat finger" dream, too, or what has replaced the run-of-the-mill anxiety in your sleep. Let me know via the comments here or on Facebook. It’s not just me, right?
Right?
Andy is the president, publisher and founder of OnMilwaukee. He returned to Milwaukee in 1996 after living on the East Coast for nine years, where he wrote for The Dallas Morning News Washington Bureau and worked in the White House Office of Communications. He was also Associate Editor of The GW Hatchet, his college newspaper at The George Washington University.
Before launching OnMilwaukee.com in 1998 at age 23, he worked in public relations for two Milwaukee firms, most of the time daydreaming about starting his own publication.
Hobbies include running when he finds the time, fixing the rust on his '75 MGB, mowing the lawn at his cottage in the Northwoods, and making an annual pilgrimage to Phoenix for Brewers Spring Training.
